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en-usCopyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/24/geometry-wars-2-release-date-moved-to-july-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/24/geometry-wars-2-release-date-moved-to-july-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/24/geometry-wars-2-release-date-moved-to-july-30/#commentsInitially set for release on August 6, Activision has moved up the final release date for Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2 to July 30. Even after a bit of a disappointment about the co-op situation, it's probably safe to say that we're all still excited for the game. We just wish that there were more games that actually had their releases expedited instead of delayed (we're looking at you Castle Crashers and Bionic Commando). You should also note that July 30 is also the release date for Double D Dodgeballand probably Pirates VS Ninjas Dodgeballas well.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionActivisionArcadeBizarreBizarre-CreationsGeometry-WarsGeometry-Wars-2Geometry-Wars-Retro-Evolved-2release-dateShmupXBLAThu, 24 Jul 2008 09:45:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/simcity-lite-for-xbla-a-kingdom-for-keflings/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/simcity-lite-for-xbla-a-kingdom-for-keflings/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/simcity-lite-for-xbla-a-kingdom-for-keflings/#commentsSo who's read Gulliver's Travels? Raise your hands, don't be shy. Hmmm, more than we would've thought. Those familiar with the tale should remember the island of Lilliput (and its rival) which was the home of, well, tiny people. A Kingdom for Keflings is rather similar in concept: you're a giant among insects (so to speak). From there the game concept adds in some dashes of SimCity and Black & White, as the goal is simply to build a city and castle as well as attract more Keflings.

While coming to us from the same devs who did Band of Bugs, A Kingdom for Keflings looks like it's doing things that we've all seen before. Hopefully Ninja Bee will find the sweet spot of city-building, avatar control, and simply watching the simulation play itself out, so that the game doesn't simply tread old ground.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-kingdom-for-keflingsninja-beexblaWed, 23 Jul 2008 01:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/footage-of-shred-nebula/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/footage-of-shred-nebula/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/footage-of-shred-nebula/#comments So after some delays to the project's release, Shred Nebula is finally getting some of its marketing going. With so many twin stick shooters out these days most gamers (understandably) have some reservations about playing more games like them. While it isn't exactly the same as playing the game, videos of gameplay definitely give a much better idea of what the game is really about than just descriptions and screen shots. So for those out there who are looking for something a little more than just words and static images, check the video. To our eyes it looks like s more substantial and traditional take on Geometry Wars and Phoenix. Oh, and the music sounds good too.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crunchtime-gamesshred-nebulaxblaTue, 22 Jul 2008 23:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/2x-xbla-dlc-this-wednesday-n-and-puzzle-quest/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/2x-xbla-dlc-this-wednesday-n-and-puzzle-quest/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/2x-xbla-dlc-this-wednesday-n-and-puzzle-quest/#comments
They've both been quite some time in coming, and this Wednesday will see the release of new downloadable content for games that are themselves downloadable. N+ will be getting a new level pack which contains 150 single player levels, and 50 co-op levels, all for 200pts (which, as the devs point out, equates to a point per level). As for Puzzle Quest, its player named DLC, Revenge of the Plague Lord, will contain 4 new classes, a new map area, 25 new quests, 40 more items and a raise of the level cap. The Puzzle Quest expansion will be priced at 700pts.

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You know, we need more games with the style of Rocket Riot. When thinking about the way that retro titles should go we definitely prefer this style to that of Mega Man 9. Over at xblarcade there's an interview with the developers that gives some history of the project, as well as what to expect from it. Asanother twin stick shooter for XBLA, Rocket Riot does its best to differentiate itself with its destructible (and good looking) environments. Also mentioned in the interivew are the origin of the game's name as well as some details out XNA 2.0 (the game was made with it).

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codegluerocket-riotxblaTue, 22 Jul 2008 02:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-geometry-wars-2-release-date-and-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-geometry-wars-2-release-date-and-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-geometry-wars-2-release-date-and-screens/#comments
After the tipoff that Joystiq got about the game, the announcement of Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2 wasn't exactly surprising. Still, it's good to get an official confirmation, and after the press conference Bizarre Creations sent around an email announcing the game's release date and providing some game assets. While the conference only gave the date of "next month", the specific date is August 6. There's also supposed to be a trailer coming soon as well, so stay tuned for that.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionActivisionArcadeBizarreBizarre-Creationse3e3-08e3-2008e308Geometry-WarsGeometry-Wars-2Geometry-Wars-Retro-Evolved-2release-dateShmupXBLAMon, 14 Jul 2008 19:10:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-new-gears-of-war-website-theme-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-new-gears-of-war-website-theme-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-new-gears-of-war-website-theme-more/#commentsYou Gear-heads out there probably already know this, but in the aftermath of the Microsoft press conference, the official Gears of War 2 website received and entire overhaul in preparation of the kick-off of the Gears 2 hype train. The new site incorporates .NET framework and a whole new set of features. In addition to the new site, the Marketplace also has some Gears 2 goodness up for download. The XBLM was recently updated with a new Gears 2 theme an a new video from the conference.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3-08e3-2008e308Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:45:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-major-nelson-updates-with-tons-of-new-dashboard-details/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-major-nelson-updates-with-tons-of-new-dashboard-details/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-major-nelson-updates-with-tons-of-new-dashboard-details/#comments
Things are moving really, really, fast in the world of the 360 right now. After the news that the Dashboard would be receiving a makeover, many of you thought that it was the end of the known world. Luckily, Major Nelson has updated his blog with some of the many new details of the new interface. The first of which is that the blades interface isn't going away, it's now just a smaller part of the larger Xbox Guide.

Even bigger though is the option to install games entirely to the HDD for faster load times and no disc drive noise. However, to get the installed game to boot, the disc has to still be in the drive for an initial check to make sure you still own it.

The new party system that's built into the interface supports up to eight people and allows for chat, sharing of media, and simultaneous launch of games, all for the entire group. As for the so-called Xbox Live Primetime, it's basically a system that allows users to participate in what amounts to virtual game shows, many complete with prizes and a live host.

The last few bits include a few notes on Avatars, including their integration into Arcade games, future retail releases and of course the newly christened "Live Party". Also, for those techies out there, the update will add 16X10 over VGA or HDMI, and support for 1440x900 or 1680x1050. Oh, and you'll be able to buy anything from the Marketplace via Xbox.com too.

Plus the ol' Major promises that there is still more details to be revealed as the update draws ever closer.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarsdashboarddashboard-updatee3e3-08e3-2008e308major-nelsonMon, 14 Jul 2008 15:58:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-no-new-bungie-announcement/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-no-new-bungie-announcement/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-no-new-bungie-announcement/#comments
Well, the main Microsoft press conference has come and gone with many a megaton indeed. Still, there was one megaton which didn't rear its head: Just what the heck is Bungie working on, and just why the heck is Bungie.net down "for cleaning"? Well Bungie, all your sly hinting was just to mess with us wasn't it? Hopefully not though, as the site appears to be counting down to something (we'll be watching that sucker, don't worry). While it would be strange for a big announcement from Bungie to not come via the press conference, don't forget that they're independent now and are likely trying to do things their own way.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E3Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-netflix-on-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-netflix-on-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-netflix-on-360/#comments
It's been rumored before, but now it's confirmed. And in a big way, see there no extra cost for live members to watch Netflix movies via the digital distribution of XBLM. Additionally, the Netflix movies that are downloaded can be shared via the aforementioned party system. While the details were a bit scarce, the news that XBLM has as big a partner as Netflix is great start.

After our initial reveal of the Xbox 360 avatars, it was still in the realm of rumors. Now, after the Microsoft press conference, we can be sure that they are absolutely real. And they're just a small part of a much larger overhaul to the entire 360 Dashboard. Avatars will integrated into the larger 360 experience via a community "channel", when your friends come online, their avatars will appear in said channel.

Microsoft is also creating a party system via the community channel which will allow for users to chat in large groups, share the media from their hard drives, and more. Demonstrated was the ability to move the party from photos, to videos, to games all while keeping the party of Avatars and players together.

Also unveiled was "Xbox Live Primetime" which allows for Avatars to be used in a mix of game show, video game and traditional TV. Additionally, Microsoft promises to have "real prizes" available through Primetime.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatare3e3-08e3-2008e308xbox-avatarxbox-avatarsMon, 14 Jul 2008 14:27:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-microsoft-press-conference-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-microsoft-press-conference-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-microsoft-press-conference-preview/#comments
With the Microsoft press conference starting in less than half an hour, it seems that Gamerscore blog has updated via a Microsoft Media Alert in their Video Podcast that showcases the announcements that are going to be made during the conference.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarse3e3-08e3-2008e308lipsmicrosoftportalMon, 14 Jul 2008 13:20:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-too-human-demo-online-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-too-human-demo-online-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/e308-too-human-demo-online-now/#commentsAfter all the controversy that has surrounded the game, gamers can finally give Too Human a shot for themselves. While it's possible that the demo of the Norse inspired dungeon crawler might not give one the full flavor of the game considering how story and loot driven the experience is supposed to be. Still, something is better than nothing, especially with a game that has been so divisive as this one. The demo is 1.1 gigs and is online now.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3-08e3-2008e308microsoftsilicon-knightstoo-humanMon, 14 Jul 2008 05:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/sorry-readers-no-shred-nebula-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/sorry-readers-no-shred-nebula-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/sorry-readers-no-shred-nebula-next-week/#comments
First, we need to apologize to you guys. When we received an email from Crunchtime staff that told us that Shred Nebula had grabbed an open release slot and would be releasing July 16th we jumped at the chance to tell you. Unfortunately it seems that there was some word from the higher reaches of Microsoft and plans changed. And changed fast.

Whether or not that had anything to do with other current events, no one can really say. And while Shred Nebula is back to having no official release date, we'll be sure to keep you informed about the latest happenings with the title. It's really too bad, unless there's something Microsoft has up it's sleeve we're back to *shudder* Coffeetime Crosswords as next week's XBLA release.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crunchtimecrunchtime-gamesshred-nebulaxblaMon, 14 Jul 2008 01:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/lots-of-new-gears-2-footage/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/lots-of-new-gears-2-footage/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/lots-of-new-gears-2-footage/#comments So the media blitz begins. GameTrailers just put up quite a few new Gears of War 2 videos, kicking off the massive amount of video that's going to hit the tubes during E3. The above video is about 5 minutes of multiplayer gameplay complete with curb stomping and meat shields. The rest of the videos (posted after the break) consist of a single old-map new-map comparison (Gridlock) and map fly-throughs for River, Security, Gridlock, and Day One. Oh, and be wary, this'll use up some serious bandwith.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3-08e3-2008e308epicgearsgears-2gears-of-wargears-of-war-2microsoftSun, 13 Jul 2008 23:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/and-so-it-begins-new-halo-wars-screens-and-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/and-so-it-begins-new-halo-wars-screens-and-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/and-so-it-begins-new-halo-wars-screens-and-art/#comments
With E3 beginning so soon the news is really starting to flow, and over the next few days things'll be moving pretty fast around here. The first thing we've got are a few new Halo Wars screens along with a bit of concept art and info. Apparently Ensemble has worked hard to make sure to get all sorts of little things from the Halo universe into the game. We'll be seeing Sentinels in one or more forms (with a least a single variant that aids you if you gain control over its factory), and while the developers are coy about it, it's extremely likely the flood will show up in some fashion.

After tomorrow's press conference there'll likely be much, much more on Halo Wars. Including, if loose talk is to be believed, some news on a demo.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-Industriese3e3-08e3-2008e308ensembleensemble-studioshalohalo-warsmicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-StudiosReal-Time-StrategyrtsSun, 13 Jul 2008 22:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/cod4-playlist-changes-in-the-pipeline/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/cod4-playlist-changes-in-the-pipeline/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/cod4-playlist-changes-in-the-pipeline/#commentsConsidering how long the game has been out now, we're glad that Infinity Ward is keeping up with its community and making sure that they continue to play. Over at IAMfourzerotwo's blog he's updated readers on the playlists that'll be "in testing" over the weekend. The best and most liked of the lot will be added to the playlists in the next update. The four playlists that'll be tested include Multi-bomb Search and Destroy and Hardcore HQ. The full run down with playlist descriptions are listed after the break.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-4cod4infinity-wardmatchmakingSun, 13 Jul 2008 10:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/puzzle-quest-galactrix-video-release-q109/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/puzzle-quest-galactrix-video-release-q109/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/puzzle-quest-galactrix-video-release-q109/#comments
If you haven't tried the original yet Puzzle Quest yet, now would be a great time what with that price drop. As for the sequel (which we still can't believe is actually being made), Puzzle Quest Galactrix had its first bit of gameplay released which shows off some of the changed game mechanics.

Changing over from a grid based system to a hex-based system would mean of course that gems wouldn't fall when those beneath them were removed, so the play field has been moved into zero gravity. Now, the gems will "fall" in the direction that they were swapped. Move a gem diagonally up and to the right and the gems from diagonally down and to the left will move to fill the space.

If that sounds confusing check the gameplay video after the break. And the current release window is the first quarter of 2009.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d3puzzle-questpuzzle-quest-galactrixxblaSun, 13 Jul 2008 00:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/new-castle-crashers-video-beefy-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/new-castle-crashers-video-beefy-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/new-castle-crashers-video-beefy-mode/#comments
Sure, sure, we're all (devs included, more than likely) frustrated with the fact Castle Crashers hasn't yet seen some sort of final release date. But that doesn't mean we can't learn more about the game to help to pass the time. The latest feature revealed on the Castle Crashers dev blog fits right into the game's quirky art,and is known as Beefy Mode. Apparently activated by the awesomeness of peanut butter and jelly, Beefy Mode hulks-out your little character to steroid size and provides a power boost.

In an effort to keep even more video from cluttering the front page the short gameplay clip is embedded after the break.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castle-crashersthe-behemothxblaSat, 12 Jul 2008 23:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/arcade-360-not-receiving-any-price-cut/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/arcade-360-not-receiving-any-price-cut/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/arcade-360-not-receiving-any-price-cut/#comments
Since it's been pretty much confirmed that the 20GB 360 is going to be getting a price cut down to $299.95, we hoped that the Arcade SKU would be getting a similar price cut. In light of the rumors of a 60GB HDD SKU though, we did speculate the price drop was simply to clear shelves of the older 20GB units and that the future 60GB unit wouldn't debut at $299.99.

While that could all still be proven wrong, as more info comes in it seems to be the most likely scenario. Thanks to a tip from our good buddies over at ps3fanboy we've got an advertisement from Circut City that seems to confirm that by the weekend of July 27 the Arcade unit will not have gotten a price cut. Makes you think about why someone would buy that over an HDD equipped unit at $299.99; unless of course they'll all be off the shelves by then ....

Only time will tell, but look for E3 to clear up a lot of these uncertainties.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcadehardwareprice-cutprice-dropSat, 12 Jul 2008 22:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/of-idle-animations-and-exagerations-mk-vs-dcu/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/of-idle-animations-and-exagerations-mk-vs-dcu/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/of-idle-animations-and-exagerations-mk-vs-dcu/#comments We haven't been too kind to Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe in the past, but we did our best to reserve final judgment, hoping that the gameplay would redeem the premise, the art design and the series background. Well, the gameplay is here and it doesn't do the job we were quite hoping for. It's true that there are some interesting ideas, but there seems to be a certain level of ... disconnection that we can't put our finger on. Maybe it's the animation, the hit detection and a particular by-the-numbers flavor that the game seems to posses. Could just be us though.

A herding simulator from Capcom huh? Flock is a puzzle game built around moving farm animals around a grid style environment with a UFO. The animals you herd have effects on, and are affected by, the specific parts of the individual levels and the puzzle aspects come in from using those effects to complete your goals.

Described as similar in concept to Lemmings, Flock is going to have over 50 different stages, co-op online play, and a level editor. No word on an estimated release date.

We thought that Certain Affinity wanted to distance itself as far as possible from the Bungie joke-game Pimps at Sea, but it looks like we were wrong. Renamed to Age of Booty from Plunder, the pirate themed hex-based strategy game stil doesn't have a firm release date (even though the site still says late spring/early summer) but we hope that a name change indicates that Capcom and Certain Affinity are gearing up for finalization.

Oh Coffeetime Crosswords you are a funny, funny game, but are certainly not the kind of release we want to see during the week of E3. Thankfully an email came that ended our apprehension. Having been flying under the radar a bit this year, Shred Nebula has no official date will actually be hitting the Live Arcade on July 16th. For the calender challenged that's an unknown day of the week next Wednesday. The top-down shooter may appearto be just another twin-stick game but it actually has roots in both Asteroids and, believe it or not, Street Fighter. With a concept like that, and the promise of large free-roaming space environments we're willing to give Shred Nebula a good portion of our time when it's released during the busy week next week.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crunchtimecrunchtime-gamesshred-nebulaxblaFri, 11 Jul 2008 22:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/rumor-first-pics-of-lips/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/rumor-first-pics-of-lips/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/rumor-first-pics-of-lips/#comments
They've become so common with Microsoft that pre-E3 rumors and leaks are often thought to be absolute fact. While most of the other rumors about Lips had some sort of thread tying them to Microsoft, this one seemed to just come out of left field. From over at Gamekyo come not only the pics, but also the confirmation that the developer of the game is iNiS, the devs behind Elite Beat Agents. But honestly, no matter the pedigree of the rumored developer, this looks so cheesy that we actually kinda don't want it to be real. The mics do look good, but if this is accurate they really need to change the art. Ugh.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e308karaokelipsmicrosoftrumorFri, 11 Jul 2008 15:20:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/force-unleashed-launch-trailer-minor-spoilers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/force-unleashed-launch-trailer-minor-spoilers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/force-unleashed-launch-trailer-minor-spoilers/#comments Those of you who really care about "spoliers" should shy away from this Force Unleashedtrailer knowing simply that the game is looking good. For those who can see these type of "twists" coming a mile away (it is Star Wars after all) the spoilers won't really matter. Plus, we're sure there's even more too come and we can't help but be distracted by the wooden voice acting of the apprentice's love interest.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lucasartsstar-warsthe-force-unleashedFri, 11 Jul 2008 08:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/newest-burnout-paradise-update-delayed-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/newest-burnout-paradise-update-delayed-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/newest-burnout-paradise-update-delayed-again/#commentsAfter supposedly being delayed only a few days, the latest update for Burnout Paradise has been delayed once again. The Cagney update, which contains three new game modes, 70 freeburn challenges some new cars and more, will still of course be totally free, but us 360 gamers are now going to have to wait until around the 24th of this month before we see it. Apparently the Microsoft QA team spotted a few bugs and it'll take a few more weeks to squash 'em. Hey, it's always better to nip these things in the bud before they become a larger problem.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutburnout-paradisecagneycriterionThu, 10 Jul 2008 21:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/confirmed-mega-man-9-is-coming-to-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/confirmed-mega-man-9-is-coming-to-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/confirmed-mega-man-9-is-coming-to-xbla/#commentsHA! HA HA! We knew it. Capcom cannot resist its money. We knew they couldn't resist the urge to suck dry the wallets of nostalgic gamers on every console download service. The announcement was revealed via IGN, and since the Wii version will be 1000 points we think we're safe in making a prediction of an 800 MSpoint price for the game (both are $10). Also, take this for what you will, but we also hear that Mega Man 9 is going to have DLC to go along with it too.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcommega-manmega-man-9xblaThu, 10 Jul 2008 19:45:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/new-video-for-the-maw/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/new-video-for-the-maw/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/new-video-for-the-maw/#commentsWhen we first set eyes on The Maw we knew we were looking at something interesting and new. With a concept like "eat everything to change yourself and world, to get an alien home" it sounds like a winner. And now with some video to go with the idea, we're almost sure it's going to be a winner. Using some sort of electrical tether that looks similar to something seen in the newest Banjo trailer the player swings and grapples around the world while directing the loveable purple glob to down useful items as needed.

This looks really good, good enough, in fact to be one of the finalists in the PAX 10 indie game competition. Congrats to Twisted Pixel!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>the-mawtwisted-pixel-gamesxblaWed, 09 Jul 2008 22:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/sigh-more-newton-motion-control-rumors/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/sigh-more-newton-motion-control-rumors/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/sigh-more-newton-motion-control-rumors/#comments
Sure Microsoft may have gone back on their "we do not comment on rumors and speculation" policy to debunk the Banjo -> Newton connection, but they didn't go so far as to declare that there isn't a motion controller at all. Over at xbox360oz, they claim that the latest copy of Xbox360World magazine has an inside source that then claims that not only is the project real, but that it also uses tech from a company that already makes motion controllers.

This is all quite tenuous and feels like grasping at straws, but it's some interesting food for thought. The Motus "Darwin" controller does make sense as a starting point for a company looking to match the Wii. In fact, the company website mentions the Wii in comparison to its product quite often, and has several news stories running along its bottom that deal with the ol' 360 Newton rumors. Evidence? Of course not. Curious? Definitely.

Get here already E3! We need all these speculations and rumors to end, interesting as they all may be.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwaremotion-controlnewtonWed, 09 Jul 2008 21:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/you-like-sin-citys-visual-effects-so-did-ubisoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/you-like-sin-citys-visual-effects-so-did-ubisoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/you-like-sin-citys-visual-effects-so-did-ubisoft/#comments
Owned. Literally. The stylized look of the Sin City movie was (and still is) quite iconic. With the second movie yet to be made, Frank Miller tied up shooting The Spirit, and now the purchasing of the studio that does the effects, just how much influence does that style hold for the future?

After its acquisition by Ubisoft, Hybride Technologies will supposedly continue to work with its movie partners, but will also work on bringing some of Ubisoft's IP's to the big screen. While this does seem quite out of character for a video game publisher, and it seems even weirder considering how Tom Clancy happy Ubisoft is, but it does open some interesting doors for that Prince of Persia movie.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>prince-of-persiaprince-of-persia-moviesin-cityubisoftTue, 08 Jul 2008 19:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/gamestop-gears-up-for-the-price-drop/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/gamestop-gears-up-for-the-price-drop/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/gamestop-gears-up-for-the-price-drop/#comments
As you can see, you shouldn't know about this until Sunday. After all the other leaks surrounding the issue, one wouldn't think it'd be such a big screaming deal. Still, the phone cam shot above looks to confirm what we've already known. However, we shouldn't forget that the majority of gamers don't exactly comb the internet for this stuff, and "window signs," "Pop-ons" (whatever those are) and a gigantic stack of boxes with "oversized price labels" will likely be the first many folks hear of the price drop.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamestopprice-cutprice-dropxbox-360Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/rumor-gears-page-hints-gow2-release-as-nov-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/rumor-gears-page-hints-gow2-release-as-nov-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/rumor-gears-page-hints-gow2-release-as-nov-9/#comments
Alright kiddies time for some sleuthing courtesy of the Gears of WarOfficial Forums. The Gears site has a new splash page up (above) and in Marcus' hand are some Dog (Cog?) Tags. Immediately upon discovery, there was the speculation that this meant death and loss would play some larger part in the game's story. But then someone decided to take a closer look at the number sequence visible on the tag: 033-116-117-126-071.

Seemingly random right? Nope. Match those numbers with one of these ASCII tables, and you'll get yourself the following letter string: "ESC N O V 9". We'd love to beleive that this was simply thrown in there to mess with the community, but it seems to be too much of a coincidence to be something wholly meaningless. Is this an early "word" on the release date? We sure hope so.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicgearsgears-of-wargears-of-war-2microsoftTue, 08 Jul 2008 16:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/rumor-leaked-ms-email-confirms-60gb-sku-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/rumor-leaked-ms-email-confirms-60gb-sku-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/rumor-leaked-ms-email-confirms-60gb-sku-more/#comments
Well as E3 approaches, it looks Microsoft just can't keep a lid on their announcements. The lowered price on the 20GB unit has been rumored for a while now, and the idea has even been bandied about that its purpose was to clear the shelves to make room for a 60GB unit. While this of course is still waiting on some sort of official word (likely coming around or at MS's E3 press conference), a leaked email supposedly sent out to GameStop and Blockbuster company buyers seems to confirm both the new 60GB SKU as well as a "Live Starter Pack" for Arcade owners, which consists of a 60GB HDD, 3 Months of Live, a Headset, and an ethernet cable, all for $99.99.

Additionally, the email states the 20GB HDD is being phased out altogether and that the 120GB stand alone drive will receive a price cut to $149.99 (HA!). Word is that the 60GB Pro Unit will hit before the month is out and the Live Starter Pack will hit late October or early November. Whether or not the new 60GB SKU will be subject to the new price drop is unknown, but doubtful. Likely the 20GBs at $299.99 are a fire sale, and the 60GBs will still be $349.99.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>60gbarcadehardwaremicrosoftprice-cutprice-dropproskuTue, 08 Jul 2008 15:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/infinity-ward-rewarded-with-new-ip/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/infinity-ward-rewarded-with-new-ip/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/infinity-ward-rewarded-with-new-ip/#commentsWhen the rumor went around that the next Call of Duty from Infinity Ward would be going sci-fi, there was some who said that the described game might be an entirely new IP. We still don't know about the sci-fi part yet, but the new IP part looks pretty solid. Their deal with Activision was renegotiated (they 've got enough clout to do that these days) to give them a chance to do "a unique new IP by Infinity Ward, that we'll have complete control over."

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-4cod4infinity-wardMon, 07 Jul 2008 22:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/new-fallout-3-screens-and-details/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/new-fallout-3-screens-and-details/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/new-fallout-3-screens-and-details/#comments
In a second fan Q&A over at Bethesda, Todd Howard has answered a collection of fan questions taken from the forums. The questions asked range from armor and inventory to children, non-human creatures and more. Check the list below for a quick run down. Oh, and Todd also released a fewnewscreens too.

Armor sets come in two pieces, body and head

Inventory limit is based on weight

Children and essential NPC's are unkillable

Good/Evil karma system relating to in-game choices

Crimes committed against specific groups are known to all in the group throughout the game world

NPC's navigate via a mesh instead of via a point to point system like in Oblivion and Morrowind

Like Oblivion the game uses a skill list and those skills determine maximum possible effectiveness in battle

When Shotest Shogi and Basement Pool were originally announced, we were a bit harsh on the latter and quite welcoming to the former. Well thanks to that delisting process that Microsoft unveiled not too long ago, Basement Pool is going to be seeing a bit of a delay. Posting on the Indiegamer boards, Paul Johnson of Rubicon said that while the game is a pet project of his that will likely never really die, Rubicon is waiting for Bankshot Billiards to be retired before releasing Basement Pool to XBLA.

And hey, as for Shotest Shogi, after a bit of a certification debacle, it's finally passed and it's only up to Microsoft when it goes live. For those unfamiliar with the concept, Shogi is a harder, deeper, and more complex version of chess. Thankfully Rubicon professes to have spent an inordinate amount of time on a tutorial mode, meaning that anyone who'd like to deepen their strategic thinking a bit should be able to find some enjoyment here.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankshot-billiardsbasement-poolrubiconshotest-shogixblaSun, 06 Jul 2008 18:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/a-few-new-prince-of-persia-shots-slip-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/a-few-new-prince-of-persia-shots-slip-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/a-few-new-prince-of-persia-shots-slip-out/#comments
To go with the pixelated video from earlier, we've got a few much better looking screen shots from the new Prince of Persia game. While the shots don't exactly reveal anything new (and their origination on a message board smells a tad like viral marketing) they do reaffirm the amazing use of cel shading that the Assassin's Creed team has been able to pull off.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>prince-of-persiaprince-of-persia-prodigyubisoftSun, 06 Jul 2008 15:45:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/05/mk-vs-dc-new-screens-plus-brutalities/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/05/mk-vs-dc-new-screens-plus-brutalities/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/05/mk-vs-dc-new-screens-plus-brutalities/#comments When the game was first announced, fanboys on both sides were worried that Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe wouldn't be able to do justice to either property. While the main of that question is still up in the air, one small part of it has now been answered (for those few who really care). See, the very first episode of the MKast went up recently and promised again to its followers that the game would in fact feature the series' signature Fatalities.

Bu- bu- bu- but Batman doesn't kill! Indeed. To rectify this, the DC characters will have what are known as Brutalities instead. Just like a Fatality, except, y'know, not fatal. As you can tell, we're absolutely ecstatic about this news. Wee.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dcmidwaymortal-kombatmortal-kombat-vs-dc-universeSat, 05 Jul 2008 14:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/ninja-gaiden-2-gets-patched-sorta/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/ninja-gaiden-2-gets-patched-sorta/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/ninja-gaiden-2-gets-patched-sorta/#commentsWhen most games get patched or auto-updated, we at least have a few words from the developers about what changes the patch entails. Especially if the game in question has a myriad of technical problems that we know have not all been solved. So, to turn on a 360 and see Ninja Gaiden 2 auto-update without any news from Team Ninja, Tecmo or Microsoft feels a bit strange. Though we do know Team Ninja and Tecmo have a lot on their plates at the moment, if they had time to work on a patch, surely they had time to send out a few press releases? But we digress, any patch is better than no patch for a game that seems to run in bullet time for some bits (Chp 10's stairs) and the tubes have not let us down in their observations of some of the patches effects (though we'd've preferred official word).

The game-breaking glitch seems to be solved and any old "broken" saves can now be continued. The speed run leaderboards are now actually updated each subsequent time you beat your best time, instead of just sticking with your first score forever. And while the major technical problems such as slowdown haven't really been addressed, we're glad that the game is actually beginning to approach what it should have been upon release. Here's hoping we'll see more patches as time goes on ...